Julius Ludwig August Koch (1841-1908): Christian, philosopher and psychiatrist.

Being deeply rooted in a Christian faith and having much interest in moral and ethical issues, Koch published some philosophical works Die Wirklichkeit und ihre Erkenntnis (Reality and its knowledge; Koch, 1886), in which he tried to bring together critical Kantian philosophy and Christian conviction. In 1888 he published Kurzgefasster Leitfaden der Psychiatrie (Short Textbook of Psychiatry). The next work, entitled Die psychopathischen Minderwertigkeiten (Psychopathic Inferiority; Koch, 1891-93) became one of his fundamental texts on the concept of personality disorders, a concept still used today.

[Edema related to treatment with olanzapine].

Objective: In comparison to metabolic syndrome, edema seems to be a rare occurrence in antipsychotic treatment.

Method: In this paper, we report on two subjects with psychotic disorders who were found to have peripheral edema during olanzapine therapy.

Discussion: The theoretical background and the relevance of this observation are examined.

[Julius Ludwig August Koch (1841-1908). Psychiatrist, philosopher, and Christian].

Julius Ludwig August Koch was born 1841 in the small town of Laichingen (Württemberg) in the Southwest of Germany. After working as a chemist for about seven years, he studied medicine in Tübingen from 1863 to 1867. First he worked as a physican and later in a private mental hospital in Göppingen.

[Palinacousis in alcohol hallucinosis].

Objective: Palinacousis seems to be a rare phenomenon in mental disorders.

Methods: In this paper, we report on a subject with alcohol hallucinosis who displayed one episode with palinacousis after remission from the typical acoustic hallucinations according to the disorder.

Discussion: The theoretical background and the relevance of this observation are discussed.

On the way to a scientia sexualis: 'On the relation of the sexual system to the psyche in general and to cretinism in particular' (1826) by Joseph Häussler.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, several works were published by physicians trying to explain, in an increasingly systematic manner, the emergence of psychic derangements with sexual disorders. A contribution to this development was provided by Joseph Häussler with his monograph 'On the relation of the sexual system to the psyche in general and to cretinism in particular' (1826). Häussler was interested in whether the sexual system was the cause of psychic disturbance.

[Hans Kurella's 'Naturgeschichte des Verbrechers' [Natural history of the criminal], 1893, as an apology of Cesare Lombroso's doctrine of 'Uomo delinquente'].

At the end of the 19th century Cesare Lombroso and his theory of the 'delinquente nato' had great influence on a lot of scientists in the German speaking world. One of the psychiatrists who published several books and articles about Lombroso's theory was Hans Kurella. In his 'Naturgeschichte des Verbrechers' (1893) he elaborates the thesis of the 'delinquente nato' agreeing with its central point that the criminal.

Self-amputation of penis and tongue after use of Angel's Trumpet.

This case report draws attention to the dramatic consequences of the consumption of Angel's Trumpet. Angel's Trumpet contains alkaloids (especially scopolamine, as well as hyoscyamine, atropine and other alkaloids) in a relatively high concentration. When intoxicated with Angel's Trumpet, patients can suffer hallucinations, motoric restlessness, overtalkativeness, convulsive sobbing and sexual excitement, as well as aggressive and autoaggressive behaviour.

Hermann Joseph Löwenstein's dissertation: De mentis aberrationibus ex partium sexualium conditione abnormi oriundis (1823).

In the nineteenth century there was a growing number of publications by physicians who were concerned with the relation between abnormal sexual behaviour or abnormal conditions in the genital sphere and psychiatric disorders. These publications were part of an anti-onanism discourse which had been initiated in the eighteenth century. One of the earliest works in this field was hermann Joseph Löwenstein's dissertation: De mentis aberrationibus ex partium sexualium conditione abnormi oriundis (1823).